SSL-Built Asiasat 8 Begins Post-Launch Maneuvers According to Plan

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) today announced that the AsiaSat 8 satellite, designed and built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), was launched this morning and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle provided by SpaceX. The satellite will begin firing its main thruster early tomorrow morning in order to start maneuvering into geostationary orbit.

"I would like to thank and congratulate everyone at AsiaSat, SpaceX and SSL who contributed to the successful launch of AsiaSat 8," said John Celli, President of SSL. "This is the third SSL-built satellite to join the AsiaSat fleet. We are very pleased to support AsiaSat in its fleet expansion, and believe that our ongoing relationship reflects a shared focus on quality, reliability and value."

AsiaSat 8 is designed to provide direct-to-home (DTH) television service, data broadcasting, and telecommunications services in Asia and the Middle East where it will help meet growing market demand and ensure the delivery of exceptionally high power and quality service to its customers. The satellite will be co-located with SSL-built AsiaSat 7, and will have four Ku-band beams serving China, India, the Middle East and South East Asia and a Ka-band payload.

"We have had a close working relationship with SSL for many years," said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat. "We are very satisfied with the technology and value that SSL has provided to us. We look forward to bringing to our customers AsiaSat 8's enhanced power and coverage in the region."

AsiaSat 8 is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. With this launch, there are 75 SSL-built operational satellites currently on orbit. SSL has two additional satellites for AsiaSat in its backlog including AsiaSat 6 which is scheduled to be the next Falcon 9 launch.